Sovereign Grace Church

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love


(GALATIANS 5:6)

When faith and works are understood properly they are seen to be in perfect harmony. Paul in Romans 3 is dealing with the cause of salvation and in doing so utterly condemns the idea of any works having a part therein. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight (ROMANS 3:20). James, on the other hand, is dealing with the effect of salvation and in doing so he is adamant that the kind of faith which saves, also produces a love for and obedience to the law of God. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works (JAMES 2:18). I must not consider works in any form or degree to be the cause of my salvation lest I fall from the very grace of God (GALATIANS 5:4). I must not exclude works from the effect of my salvation or I have not understood the kind of faith which God gives His children. My children have a desire to please me; however, their obedience to me is not the cause of their relationship to me, it is the effect.

How we ought to rejoice in a faith which is given to us by God in pure grace and which produces in us, by the Spirit of Christ, much fruit (JOHN 15:8). May God give us all in abundance this faith which worketh [by love].